Brandis Kemp facts for kids

Brandis Kemp (born February 1, 1944 – died July 4, 2020) was an American actress. She was most famous for her roles in the TV shows Fridays and AfterMASH. She appeared in many other films and TV shows throughout her career.

Brandis Kemp's Early Life

Brandis grew up in Palo Alto, California. She went to three colleges, including Stanford University. There, she earned a master's degree in drama and literature. Brandis worked hard in school, even though she faced challenges with dyslexia.

After college, she spent a year in Hawaii. Then she moved to Oregon. In Oregon, she met Mark Blankfield, who would later become her husband. They met at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She then lived in New York for five years. Her first job there was teaching speech to police officers and firefighters. In 1979, she moved to Los Angeles. Soon after, she joined the cast of Fridays.

Theatre Performances

Brandis Kemp was also a talented stage actress. She performed in many plays. Some of these included Meetin' On The Porch and A Man's A Man. She also appeared in Look Homeward, Angel. Other plays were Women Behind Bars and Bullshot Crummond. She also performed in El Grande de Coca-Cola. Brandis worked with the Stanford Repertory Theatre for two seasons. She also spent one season with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Her Role in Fridays

Producers of the TV show Fridays saw Brandis perform. They liked her work in the comedy shows "Bullshot Crummond" and "El Grande de Coca Cola". Because of this, they chose her to be part of their new comedy team.

In 1980, Brandis became known for her funny characters. One popular character was the "Creative Palm Reader." She was very flexible and good at delivering her lines. This made her a go-to female cast member. She starred alongside Mark Blankfield, Jack Burns, Maryedith Burrell, Melanie Chartoff, Larry David, Rich Hall, Bruce Mahler, and Michael Richards. The show ran for two seasons and ended in 1982.

Her Role in AfterMASH

The producers of AfterMASH saw Brandis in the play "Women Behind Bars." They liked the character she played. It was similar to the character Alma Cox they were creating for their TV show. Brandis started AfterMASH as a character who appeared sometimes.

But after only four episodes, she quickly became a regular cast member. This was because her character, Alma Cox, was very popular. After the first 13 episodes, she appeared in every episode. She acted with David Ackroyd, Rosalind Chao, William Christopher, Patrick Cranshaw, Jamie Farr, Peter Michael Goetz, Harry Morgan, Anne Pitoniak, and Jay O. Sanders. The show finished its run in 1985.

Her Passing

Brandis Kemp passed away at her home in Los Feliz, Los Angeles on July 4, 2020. She was 76 years old. She had been battling brain cancer. She also had complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles.

Film and TV Appearances

Brandis Kemp appeared in many films and TV shows. Here is a list of some of her work: